diff --git a/src/memory.c b/src/memory.c
index f9c53782..dd03cf95 100644
--- a/src/memory.c
+++ b/src/memory.c
@@ -461,10 +461,14 @@ void _mi_mem_free(void* p, size_t size, size_t id, mi_stats_t* stats) {
     // reset: 10x slowdown on malloc-large, decommit: 17x slowdown on malloc-large
     if (!is_large) {
       if (mi_option_is_enabled(mi_option_segment_reset)) {
-        _mi_os_reset(p, size, stats);  //
-        // _mi_os_decommit(p,size,stats); // if !is_eager_committed (and clear dirty bits)
+        if (!is_eager_committed &&  // cannot reset large pages
+          (mi_option_is_enabled(mi_option_eager_commit) ||  // cannot reset halfway committed segments, use `option_page_reset` instead
+            mi_option_is_enabled(mi_option_reset_decommits))) // but we can decommit halfway committed segments
+        {
+          _mi_os_reset(p, size, stats);
+          //_mi_os_decommit(p, size, stats);  // todo: and clear dirty bits?
+        }
       }
-      // else { _mi_os_reset(p,size,stats); }
     }    
     if (!is_eager_committed) {
       // adjust commit statistics as we commit again when re-using the same slot
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index d71e5d1c..a49c46ed 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static mi_option_desc_t options[_mi_option_last] =
   { 0, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(cache_reset) },
   { 0, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(reset_decommits) },     // note: cannot enable this if secure is on
   { 0, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(eager_commit_delay) },  // the first N segments per thread are not eagerly committed
-  { 0, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(segment_reset) },       // reset segment memory on free
+  { 0, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(segment_reset) },       // reset segment memory on free (needs eager commit)
   { 100, UNINIT, MI_OPTION(os_tag) }             // only apple specific for now but might serve more or less related purpose
 };